Fuel dispensing device with rotatable nozzle communicating with venting and liquid dispensing openings



Jan. 13, 1953 H. A. MART 2,625,304

FUEL DISPENSING DEVICE WITH ROTATABLE NOZZLE COMMUNICATING WITH VENTING AND LIQUID DISPENSING OPENINGS Filed Feb. 21, 1950 J9 4/ fi 14 26 i 7/11 l I I .J

INVENTOR. Harry A. M art W Li M aid Patented Jan. 13, 1953 FUEL DISPENSING DEVICE WITH ROTAT- ABLE NOZZLE COMMUNICATING WITH VENTING AND LIQUID DISPENSING OPEN INGS Harry A. Mart, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Fil-O-Matic Corporation Application February 21, 1950, Serial No. 145,391

1 Claim. i

This invention relates to a fuel container and integral dispenser therefor. More particularly it has reference to improvement in the device disclosed in the co-pending United States application of Max J. Stogran, S. N. 17,400 filed March 27, 1948, now abandoned.

One of the shortcomings of the device shown and described in said application resides in the lack of suitable provision for venting. It will be recognized that any container containing a volatile fluid will, as long as the same is sealed, imprison the normally resulting vapor. Accordingly in such prior device, movement of the dispensing nozzle from off to open position results in an unintended initial gush of liquid or fluid due to vopor pressure above the free surface of the fluid forcing the latter through the nozzle. Consequently, and assuming the user was unprepared to dispense fluid by pressure on the sides of the container, nevertheless an obviously undesirable gush of fluid results.

One object of the present improvement rests in the provision of venting means whereby rotation of the nozzle from oif to on Will, at some intermediate position, allow venting of the vapor without forcing fluid through the nozzle.

Still another object resides in an improved construction of what is referred to in said prior application as the valve body, in its relation to the neck of the container, in order to reduce the cost of manufacture.

A further object resides in fabricating such valve body of a plastic material which is not only easily frictionally secured to the neck of the container in an air-tight joint, but will obviate leakage past the rotatable nozzle. In the foregoing connection, it will be clear from said pending application that the arrangement of a metallic nozzle arranged to swivel in a support of nonyielding material leaves much to be desired from. the viewpoint of preventing leaks. While careful factory assembly may provide an initially reliable joint between the valve bodyand nozzle, still itwill be appreciated that subsequent, repetitive rotation will produce wear and consequent leakage.

In .the drawing, which depicts one way in which the invention may be embodied in practice:

Fig. 1 is a view principally in vertical medial cross section of my improved fluel dispensing unit;

Fig. 2 is a detail in plan taken in the direction of the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detail in cross section taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Turning now to the drawing, the container l0 and the neck II are of the form conventionally employed for metal containers intended for holding liquid or fluid for dispensing into cigarette lighters and the like, except that in the present instance the annular neck is not threaded. However, such latter is preferably seamed at its upper periphery I3 to provide a thickened wall portion for cooperation with the valve body l4.

Such valve body is preferably of plastic composition having such characteristics as to be elastic at room temperature, although not limited thereto. Commercial polyethylene has been found suitable, not only because of its elastic character, but for its waxy property which contributes to the attainment of a tight seal with respect to the dispensing nozzle and the collar H in a manner to be detailed.

Valve body I4 is substantially cylindrical in form and includes a downwardly extending peripheral flange or skirt l6 and a central body portion ll defining between them an annular recess for reception of the upper part of the neck ll. Around the periphery of its inner face the flange I6 is enlarged as indicated at I8, the outer boundary whereof is chamfered. Accordingly to assemble the valve body M with respect to the neck I I the former is pressed over the latter, the chamfer at [9 permitting such step. Due to the elasticity of the material employed the skirt I6 including the enlarged portion [8 will yield radially to permit passage over the seam l3, and will then contract to the position shown. However, to insure positive contact and a reliable seal. a die may, if preferred, be employed to encircle the skirt l5 and to compress the same into intimate relation with the neck. As stated, polyethylene or other material having similar characteristics will provide the resiliency and friction necessary to achieve the desired seal and its permanent retention.

Cylindrical portion ll of the valve body is provided with an upwardly extending blind bore 22 into which the feed tube 23 may be forced and therein retained by the friction. A similar downwardly extending blind bore 24 is provided in the portion I! to receive one end 25 of the nozzle 26, which then extends horizontally a predetermined distance and is downwardly bent as at 2'! to direct the issuing liquid to its intended target, e. g., a cigarette lighter, the discharging position of the nozzle being indicated in phantom.

Body I! is provided also with a transverse passage 29 interconnecting the bores 22 and 24, there being an aperture 28 in the feed tube 23 to provide fluid communication between such passage and the interior of the tube.

Nozzle portion 25 is provided with an aperture 3| in the same horizontal plane as passage 23. Thus, upon rotation of the nozzle 25 through 180, to the dotted line position shown, aperture 3| is brought into register with the passage 25, and fluid may then be dispensed by manual pressure on the walls of the container H), the discharge occurring through tube 23, aperture 23, passage 20, aperture 3! and through the nozzle 26, and as also described in the co-pending application hereinbefore referred to.

Valve body portion I1 is provided with a port 35 in the same horizontal plane as aperture 3| but is displaced 90 from the passage 26, although such angle may be more or less. Accordingly during rotation of the nozzle 26 to the delivery position, aperture 3! will first be brought into register with the port 35 to allow venting therethrough of any vapor which has accumulated in the space 36 above the fluid supply 3'! (the direction of venting being as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3), and through the nozzle 26 to atmosphere. In the foregoing connection it will be understood that venting is progressive, beginning when the openings 3i and 35 begin to align and being completed after full registry and decreasing misalignment. The duration and speed of venting may be predetermined by suitable choice of the size and shape of the apertures 3| and 35 in their relation to the bore of the nozzle. By the time the nozzle has been brought to the phantom position indicated in Fig. 1 such venting has been substantially completed, or at least has diminished the vapor pressure in the space 36 to a level whereat it is insuiiicient to discharge fluid through the nozzle.

To fix the two extreme positions of the nozzle 26 the valve body I4 is preferably provided with a shoulder 4! arranged to be abutted by the nozzle as clearly indicated in Fig. 2.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course,

that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claim to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A liquid fuel dispensing device comprising a receptacle for the liquid, a hollow neck protruding from said receptacle, a combined closure and valve body for said receptacle secured to said neck, an elongated nozzle for dispensing liquid from said receptacle, said body having a bore for frictionally and rotatably receiving one end of said nozzle, a feed tube extending from said body and having its lower end in the space occupied by liquid, said body having a first passage providing liquid communication between said tube and bore, said nozzle having an aperture arranged to be brought into register with said first passage upon rotation of said nozzle to liquid-delivering position, said body having a second passage in communication with the space above liquid level and with said here, the axes of said passages both lying in a common plane transverse to the axis of rotation of said nozzle, and said passages being angularly displaced whereby upon rotation of said nozzle toward liquid delivering position said second passage is placed in communication with said nozzle aperture prior to registry of said nozzle aperture with said first passage.

HARRY A. MART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,869,049 Card July 26, 1932 1,993,255 Baggett et a1 Mar. 5, 1935 2,033,312 Welker Mar. 10, 1936 2,388,169 McAlevy et al. Oct. 30, 1945 

